Graduate Catalog

2023-2024

Policies, Procedures, Academic Programs

Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Interdisciplinary Academic Programs

ICTAS II Suite 130 1075 Life Science Circle, MC 0201 Blacksburg VA 24061

Degree(s) Offered:

• MS

MS Degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Minimum GPA:	3.0
Offered In:	Blacksburg

• PhD

PhD Degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Minimum GPA:	3.0
Offered In:	Blacksburg

Email Contact(s):

• General Contact

Web Resource(s):

• Graduate Site

Phone Number(s):

540/231-6717

Application Deadlines:

Fall: Jan 15

Directions

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The Graduate School

Life Sciences I

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Associate Department Head : Michael Bortner

Graduate Program Director : Michael Bortner (Program Director)

Emeriti Faculty: Donald Baird; John Dillard; Harry Gibson; Sam Turner

Professors: Rana Ashkar; Romesh Batra; Jonathan Boreyko; Michael Bortner; Scott Case; Jiangtao Cheng; Rebecca Cockrum; Richey Davis; Raffaella De Vita; Sanket Deshmukh; David Dillard; William Ducker; Kevin Edgar; Alan Esker; Charles Frazier; Barry Goodell; James Heflin; Matthew Hull; Scott Huxtable; Blake Johnson; Young Kim; Erdogan Kiran; John Lesko; Zheng Li; Feng Lin; Peizhen Lu; Roop Mahajan; Joseph Marcy; Steven McKnight (National Capital Region); Robert Moore; Ranga Pitchumani; Rui Qiao; Padmavathy Rajagopalan; Jennifer Russell; Maryam Shakiba; Danesh Tafti; Carolina Tallon Galdeano; Zhenhua Tian; Rong Tong; Layne Watson; Joseph Wheeler; Christopher Williams; Hang Yu; Michael von Spakovsky

Associate Professors: Marwan Al-Haik; Justin Barone; Bahareh Behkam; Paul Deck; Michael Ellis; Aaron Goldstein; Louis Madsen; Stephen Martin; John Matson; Amanda Morris; Amrinder Nain; Maren Roman; Gary Seidel; Diego Troya; Abby Whittington

Assistant Professors: Irving Allen; Michael Bartlett; Shengfeng Cheng; Charles Figg; Guoliang Liu; Frederick Michel; Vinh Nguyen; Michael Schulz; Chenggang Tao; Scott Verbridge; Valerie Welborn; Joshua Worch

Alexander Giacco Professor of Chemical Engineering: Donald Baird

Adhesive and Sealant Science Professor: David Dillard

Thomas M. Brooks Professor of Wood Science and Forest Products: Charles Frazier

Clifton C. Garvin Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics: Romesh Batra

Lewis E. Hester Chair Professor and Director of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science: Roop Mahajan

Macromolecular Science and Engineering Introduction

The Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) graduate programs are interdepartmental, intercollegiate M.S. and Ph.D. degrees focused on polymer science and engineering. The programs are interdisciplinary in nature with faculty members from the Colleges of Science, Engineering, and Natural Resources. Students work under the direction of faculty in the departments of Chemistry, Physics, Sustainable Biomaterials, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, and Civil Engineering. Students working under the direction of these faculty may pursue the departmental curricula or the Macromolecular Science and Engineering curriculum to earn degrees in the respective programs. The MACR curriculum is designed to offer the flexibility needed to tailor interdisciplinary programs of study to emerging areas related to polymeric materials. Students may choose from four fundamental modules (Synthesis, Structure, Processing, or Mechanics of Polymers) or from a series of emerging technological domains (Polymers in Materials Medicine, Adhesion and Interfaces, Opto- and Micro-electronics, or Composites) to build technical depth. Breadth is gained through polymer courses outside the concentration area, as well as through elective coursework and research. In addition to the technical courses, the program emphasizes the development of technical oral and written communication skills, team building and leadership skills, and the option to build awareness of business practices in the polymer industries through a targeted course in this area.

Offered In (Blacksburg)

Degree Requirements

Minimum GPA: 3.0

Institution code: 5859

Testing Requirements:

TOEFL
- Computer
  - 213.0
- iBT
  - 80.0
- Paper
  - 550.0

GRE
- General Test
  - Verbal :
  - Quantitative :
  - Analytical :

Master's (M.S.)
* MACR 5015/5016: Macromolecular Fundamentals with Laboratory I/II (3 cr. each) (sample 5015 syllabus, sample 5016 syllabus)
* CHEM/CHE 5014 : Technical Oral Communications and Presentation Methods (1 cr.) (sample syllabus) or GRAD 5144: Communicating Science (2 cr.)
* MACR 5024: Writing Skills for Macromolecular Science and Engineering (1 cr.) (sample syllabus)
* Technical Concentration Area (6 cr. from one program module) * CHEM 5174: Polymer Viscoelasticity (3 cr.)* CHEM 6664: Polymer Morphology (3 cr.)
* MACR Elective Courses (8 cr. from any remaining program modules)* Open (6 cr.) * MACR 5004: MACR Graduate Seminar (3x - 1 cr.)
* MACR 5994: Research and Dissertation (minimum of 10 cr.)

Total Program Hours: 32

Advancement to Candidacy Requirements (M.S.)
* By the end of the 2nd academic semester in residence, the student will submit an approved Plan of Study and 1st evaluation after meeting with their major professor.
* By the end of the 4th academic semester in residence, the student is expected to meet with their committee and submit a 2nd evaluation.
* At least once per year thereafter, the student is expected to submit an annual evaluation until the student is ready to defend his/her thesis.

Offered In (Blacksburg)

Degree Requirements

Minimum GPA: 3.0

Institution code: 5859

Testing Requirements:

TOEFL
- Paper
  - 550.0
- Computer
  - 213.0
- iBT
  - 80.0

GRE
- General Test
  - Verbal :
  - Quantitative :
  - Analytical :

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
* MACR 5015/5016: Macromolecular Fundamentals with Laboratory I/II (3 cr. each) (sample 5015 syllabus, sample 5016 syllabus)
* CHEM/CHE 5014 : Technical Oral Communications and Presentation Methods (1 cr.) (sample syllabus) or GRAD 5144: Communicating Science (2 cr.)
* MACR 5024: Writing Skills for Macromolecular Science and Engineering (1 cr.) (sample syllabus)
* Technical Concentration Area (9 cr. from approved program modules)* CHEM 5174: Polymer Viscoelasticity (3 cr.)* CHEM 6664: Polymer Morphology (3 cr.) * Open: (from any remaining MACR modules)
* MACR Elective Courses (6 cr. from any remaining program modules)* MACR 5004: MACR Graduate Seminar (1 cr. - 3x)
* General Electives (9 cr.)* Open (from any remaining MACR modules)
* MACR 7994: Research and Dissertation (minimum of 58 cr.)

Total Program Hours: 90

Advancement to Candidacy Requirements (Ph.D.)
* By the end of the 2nd semester in residence, students will submit 1st evaluation after meeting with their major professor.
* By the end of the 3rd academic semester in residence, students will submit approved Plan of Study.
* By the end of the 4th academic semester in residence, students will write a literature review for their dissertation project, then defend that review orally before their committee.
* By the end of the 5th academic semester in residence, students are required to pass a combined written and oral examination focusing on questions pre-submitted by the dissertation committee.
* At least once per year thereafter, the student will orally review his or her research before the dissertation committee (this requirement is due to the highly interdisciplinary nature of the research).

Macromolecular Science and Engineering Facilities Introduction

Facilities include laboratories in the ICTAS II building, Hahn Hall, Kelly Hall, and Goodwin Hall.

Material Characterization Laboratory (MCL)

The Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL) is a state-of-the-art materials characterization laboratory associated with the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII) and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences (ICTAS)
Our first year students take a two semester course series around the fundamental synthesis and characterization techniques. These courses introduce students to the interdisciplinary nature of polymers and macromolecules by creating hands-on learning with the instrumentation commonly used across chemistry, physics, and engineering. The need for this diverse range of equipment is what makes the MCL such a valuable asset to our program. You can find characterization equipment that takes the student from synthesis to purification to forming and shaping to end use testing all in one spot.

Facility users can collect detailed information on mechanical, thermal, and other properties of the novel materials they create, expanding the scope of their research and the potential applications for their products.
Hands-on training allows students to be directly involved in sample prep, testing, and analysis, enhancing fundamental understanding and facilitating seamless collaboration.

Materials Characterization Laboratory
420 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA 24061

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Course Listing for Macromolecular Science and Engineering